Following a third-place finish in Sunday’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR has penalized Kurt Busch and his team following an infraction during post-race inspection.

Busch was docked ten championship points, knocking him from twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth in points. Busch now sits behind AJ Allmendinger and Martin Truex Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series standings.

Car owner of the No.41 Chevrolet, Gene Haas, has also been docked ten car owner’s championship points. Busch’s crew chief, Daniel Knost, has been fined $10,000 for the infraction.

The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-12 (l) (for events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, at all times, the Delta (or difference) of the Z-height measurement between the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt located at the left truck trailing arm and the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt, located at the right rear sub-frame mounting bracket, must not exceed three inches) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book.

NASCAR announced late Tuesday afternoon that Kenny Francis, crew chief for Kasey Kahne in the Sprint Cup Series, had been fined for rule violations on May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The infraction Francis was fined for was discovered following Saturday’s qualifying session during the post-inspection process.

Francis has been fined $25,000 for a P3 level penalty in NASCAR’s new penalty system in place for 2014 and violates section 12-1 of the NASCAR rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing).

Official Press Release from NASCAR

Crew Chief Of The No. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team Penalized

For Rules Infraction At Talladega Superspeedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.(May 6, 2014) — Kenny Francis, the crew chief for the No. 5 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been penalized for rules violations committed during qualifying May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The infraction is a P3 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4.3(A)1-c (unapproved added weight and/or weight affixed improperly) of the 2014 rule book. As a result, Francis has been fined $25,000. The infraction was discovered in post-qualifying inspection.

For the second time this year, the No. 2 Chevrolet of Elliott Sadler in the Nationwide series has been fined for failing a pre/post race inspection.

After the Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Sadler’s car was determined to be too low in post-race inspection. Previously, the No. 2 car was found to have an unapproved nose prior to the Richmond race at the end of April.

Unlike Richmond, when the team was only fined money, this time NASCAR officials have docked owner and driver points for Sadler’s team and car owner, DeLana Harvick.

The No. 2 team was fined six driver and owner points for the infractions at Iowa.

Despite the penalties to Sadler, he is still second in the season points, but now trails season points leader, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., by 34 points. This closes the gap between second and third place in points. Before the penalty, Sadler led Austin Dillon by 15 points, but now Sadler only holds on to a 9 point lead over his Richard Childress Racing teammate.

Luke Lambert, Sadler’s crew chief, was fined $10,000 for the second time this year, he was also fined the same amount for the Richmond violations. Lambert was placed on probation after the Richmond incident and it has not been announced how this will affect Lambert’s probation.

It was not announced if Richard Childress Racing will appeal the penalty.

Official NASCAR press release:

No. 2 NASCAR Nationwide Series Team Penalized

For Post-Race Infraction At Iowa Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 22, 2012) – NASCAR has penalized the No. 2 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series as a result of rule infractions discovered during post-race inspection Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

The No. 2 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.8.1C (body height requirements – car failed to meet the minimum rear car heights) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.

As a result, crew chief Luke Lambert has been fined $10,000, while owner DeLana Harvick and driver Elliott Sadler have been penalized with the loss of six championship owner and six championship driver points, respectively.

Five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was docked 25 driver points and crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended for six races on Wednesday by NASCAR after the No. 48 team failed inspection Feb. 17, the day before the Budweiser Shootout.

Johnson will likely need to finish inside the top-20 at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, in order to get back to the zero mark.

The infraction came after NASCAR deemed the ‘C-post’ on Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet was illegal. NASCAR said it was modified, which is not permitted according to the rule book.

Hendrick Motorsports has announced they will appeal the penalty handed down from NASCAR.

Official Statement – Hendrick Motorsports:

“Our organization respects NASCAR and the way the sanctioning body governs our sport,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “In this case, though, the system broke down, and we will voice our concerns through the appeal process.”

OFFICIAL Press Release –

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2012) – NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 48 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found on Feb. 17 during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.
The No. 48 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the rule book or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20-2.1E (if in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted – unapproved car body modifications).
As a result, crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have been suspended from the next six (6) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events, suspended from NASCAR until April 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 9. Additionally, Knaus has been fined $100,000.
Driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon have been penalized with the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points, respectively.

If you want a sign that the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is underway, look no further than to Daytona Friday afternoon.

NASCAR has made the announcement of a confiscated ‘C-post’ off of Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet during pre-Daytona 500 inspection. According to the NASCAR rule book, this part can NOT be modified, thus resulting in an infraction.

“We noticed they had modifications to that area that is not permitted,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.

“We cut off the C-post and we confiscated the C-post. We’re allowing them to fix it. And when we get back home (to NASCAR’s R&D Center in North Carolina), we’ll look at it again and see if there needs to be anything further.”

Basically, a C-post is a panel of sheet metal that connects the roof of the car and the rear quarterpanel.

All other Hendrick Motorsports cars passed inspection without any problems.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time Knaus has been caught with an unapproved part at Daytona.

In 2006, Knaus was ejected from Daytona Speedweeks and was suspended for the Daytona 500 after Johnson’s car failed inspection in the rear window area.

However, Friday’s incident may be similar to one that occurred at Sonoma in 2007. During that incident, Hendrick crew chiefs Knaus and Steve Letarte were suspended for six weeks and fined $100,000 apiece after trying to gain an advantage in an area not directly covered by NASCAR’s templates.

Just a reminder, penalties will not be announced until AFTER the Daytona 500.

NASCAR fined Sprint Cup Series driver, Kurt Busch, for his actions during last Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR made it apparent that the sanctioning body was not happy with both Busch’s obscene gesture (displaying the middle finger), and his abusive action towards NASCAR on ESPN reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch.

“Kurt Busch showed disrespect toward a media member, an incident that followed similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season,” NASCAR said in a statement.

Busch lost his transmission during last Sunday’s Ford 400 that forced him to the garage early in the race.

Busch’s in-car-camera caught Busch making an obscene gesture (giving the middle finger), that was shown to a nationally televised TV audience.

This was not the only issue that plagued the 2004 Cup champion, as the most detrimental actions came much later.

As Busch’s crew worked on his car with hopes of returning to the track, Busch was to be interviewed by ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch, a seasoned veteran in the NASCAR media industry.

A fan standing nearby videotaped an abusive exchange by Busch directed towards Dr. Punch. As the video was later uploaded onto YouTube, both Penske officials and Busch have apologized in separate statements for his behavior.

“Unfortunately, our result in the season-ending race at Homestead on Sunday was not what we had hoped for as a team,” he said. “In my frustration with the loss of my transmission early in the race, I let my emotions get the better of me. I regret having done this and apologize to the sponsors of Penske Racing, to NASCAR, its fans, to the media and in particular, Dr. Jerry Punch.”

Penske officials did also say earlier this week that they would review the incident internally, and could possibly induce additional penalties.

“These actions do not represent Penske Racing and are inconsistent with the company’s standards for behavior, respect for others and professionalism,” Penske Racing said in a statement.

News also broke earlier this week that crew chief Steve Addington had been relieved of his duties at Penske Racing. While Addington’s destination is not 100% certain, we do know Busch will hope to find some sort of chemistry with the next individual who will sit on top of his pit box for the 2012 NSCS season.

Warning: Profanity is used in this video, so please watch with caution.